As you geeks know, New York Comic Con happened last month. Let’s just call it NYCC for short. I attend every year, even if my own comic book tastes run more towards alternative than Marvel or DC. I’ll go to do the ‘networking’ thang, check out the current trends, but it’s also become a bit like a mini-vacation. NYCC also reminds me why I got interested in comics, sci-fi and other related genres in the first place.

The first five years of attending NYCC, I got caught up in all the buzz, the excitement, the cosplay, etc. Things shifted a few years ago. Like last year, a lot of time was spent attending panels.

This blog post will focus on NYCC 2018 cosplay. I was surprised on the type of cosplay seen this year. Despite Black Panther being huge at the box office, I didn’t see a lot of Wakanda. There’s this photo:

Black Panther cosplay at NYCC 2018. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.

Was more surprised on witnessing more Harry Potter cosplay. Doctor Who cosplay went down. Bob’s Burger cosplay went up. Star Wars cosplay from any era will always be a staple of any comic book convention. That’s a given.

Another reminder about many years I’ve been attending NYCC. In 2008, I saw a man outside the Javits Center play the accordion while wearing a Boba Fett helmet. Exactly ten years later, he was back!

Boba Fett playing the accordion outside 2018 NYC. First saw him back in 2008. Renegade Accordion on FB and IG. Photo by Michele Witchipoo, Oct. 2018.

Deadpool cosplay was still going strong, but it was usually in some form of mash-up/crossplay.

Pope Deadpool. NYCC 2018. Photo by Michele Witchipoo Oct. 2018.

Cosplay at NYCC 2018. Photo by Michele Witchipoo. Oct. 2018.

Ending part one of NYCC 2018 is the inescapable photobomb. None other than good old Deadpool himself.

I’m half asleep while typing, but wanted to send a quick reminder for tomorrow.

If you’re in the Upstate NY area, come check out this comic con. If all goes well, I’ll have a new mini-issue debuting tomorrow. We’ll see. So buy my comic you bastards! Anyway, admission is free. See you tomorrow.

This past weekend was New York Comic Con 2018. NYCC for short. I spent all four days at Javits Center, and now I’m literally exhausted. Was it worth it? Absolutely.

While NYCC felt like a second home, the MTA was an entirely different story. What genius decides to close off the 7 train stop right during the busiest weekend in the Hudson Yards area!?! On Saturday I decided to attend the CBDL after con party. Made the mistake of taking that wretched shuttle bus. It was the cattle call from f’ing hell. The bus driver himself had no clue what he was doing. Instead the driver did this zig-zag route that barely made it to West 44th street. The original destination was West 42nd street. The L train chimed in by doing it’s shuttle run from Williamsburg instead of it’s usual run to Canarsie. Then the R train joined in the fun.

Once inside NYCC, it was smooth sailing. If the subway didn’t drain you first.

Due to my exhaustion, I will blog about NYCC 2018 in another post. Lots of photos, panel reviews and good times. In the meantime, here’s the Psycho Bunny sketch of the week for Oct. 8th, 2018.

Psycho Bunny tries to commute to NYCC 2018. The MTA has other plans. Based on the comic written and drawn by Michele Witchipoo on WitchesBrewPress. Oct. 2018.

Back in April 2018, the East Coast Comic Con took place over at Meadowlands Exposition Center. It only took a quick bus ride from NYC’s Port Authority station to Secaucus, New Jersey. I never had a table here. The three times I’ve attended (Westchester, NY, then later moved to New Jersey) it was strictly as a spectator.

The attendance from this particular comic con seemed to have increased from previous times. Perhaps because East Coast is one of the better comic cons in the tri-state area, even if the comic creators have worked on more mainstream titles.

Of course, who can ever forget the cosplayers. Observing those who took part in cosplaying, their game was very strong. I’ll leave the cosplayers for last in this blog post, when I get to the contest.

Amazing cosplay of Ghost. (Ghost as in the band). Not a fan of Ghost’s music, but this is great cosplay.

First, I’ll show some photos of comic book artist Paris Cullins with his love. Nothing is sweeter than two people who genuinely enjoy being with each other.

Comic book artist Paris Cullins and his love at East Coast Comic Con 2018.

Comic book artist Paris Cullins and his love at East Coast Comic Con 2018.

Comic book artist Paris Cullins and his love at East Coast Comic Con 2018.

There was plenty of panels, but only managed to catch one. Missed a panel about Sci-fi writers. As the day was winding down, I was pretty exhausted. That’s why I decided to check out the cosplaying contest. It was really about finding a place to sit down.

Me posing with two ladies. The one with the red hair plays bass for NYC Goth band Night Gallery. April 2018.

Cosplayers at East Coast Comic Con 2018.

Observing the cosplaying panel and contest was more fun than originally thought. While I admit, I was semi-roasting from the comfort of my seat, there was a lot of talent in creating those costumes. A lot of work went into all the various cosplaying.

Ghostrider cosplay. East Coast comic con 2018.

So the contest begins. There was plenty of good contenders. Once two cosplayers walked into the panel room as Warhammer characters, you pretty much knew they were going to win the contest. In which they did. Those Warhammer outfits truly impressed me.

Warhammer cosplay. East Coast Comic Con 2018.

Warhammer cosplay. East Coast Comic Con 2018.

Here’s some other honorable mentions, posted in the photos below.

Next year’s East Coast Comic Con already looks promising. The guests for next year include Peter Bagge, Drew Friedman, Kaz, Simon Bisley, Jose Luis Garcia Lopez, George Perez, and more to added later.

Since I haven’t gotten around to the latest Psycho Bunny sketch of the week, instead let’s have a retrospective. Here’s all the past issues of Psycho Bunny, from issue one to the last release in 2011.

This was the debut issue, released in 2004. My drawing and humor have improved ten fold since this first came out. Regardless, people had more or less a positive response. It sold out at Jim Hanley’s Universe (when it was located near Herald Square), and Forbidden Planet during 2004 and 2005. MySpace was popular during this time, so thanks to self online promotion, I managed to sell copies online. Unfortunately the printing place lost the files, so I’m unable to print anymore of issue one. Just as well. If you have issue one, hold on to it.

Issue two was released in 2005, making it’s debut when I had a table at Big Apple Comic Con. The cover was influenced as I was walking through Queensboro Plaza on the way to my job. Literally saw a drunken man slouched on the sidewalk after pissing in his pants. The kitty street walker was added in for maximum effect. She was affectionately known as “Crack Kitty.” Charles Bukowski would’ve been proud.

In between issue two and three, I self-published two mini-issues. Both made their debut at MoCCA Art Fest 2006 and 2007.

Spring 2008 saw the release of Psycho Bunny issue three, the double issue. Like the previous releases, this one also made it’s debut at MoCCA Art Fest 2008. The year 2008 was also when I became a NYC resident once again. Thankfully.

Jammed full of goodies at my table. Artist Alley section at the NYCC 2010. NYC

My DIY sign. NYCC 2010. NYC

The section my table was located, NYCC 2010.

In 2010, I had a table in Artist Alley at New York Comic Con, otherwise known as NYCC.

The years 2009 through 2012 were very busy. One reason was a decision to go back to college. In addition I was doing the art for a web comic titled Shitty Mickey, which was published on The Brooklyn Rail website. Along the way there was a short Psycho Bunny story published in the comic book anthology IF-X #8. The April Fool’s edition was published in 2012 by Hamtramck Idea Men.

After having some illustrations published along with various exhibits, it was time for another Psycho Bunny issue. The last one was released in 2011, debuting at MoCCA 2011. This one is still available for purchase. You can always order your copy online if I don’t have a table at a local comic convention.

My table at MoCCA Art Fest 2011.

Next post I’ll get back on track, moving forward. Stay tuned for a new Psycho Bunny sketch of the week.

Ten years ago, in addition to self-publishing Psycho Bunny, I did a sketchbook/pinup zine titled Babalon Babes. It was a mixture of occult, esoteric and symbolism mixed in with erotica. At least I was able to give Lon Milo DuQuette a copy of issue four back in 2011.

Issue One was printed in late 2003. Very Thelemic overtones. In fact, the title itself came from Crowley’s interpretation of Babalon. Not so much into the 93 current these days, but that might change.

Issue two was released in 2005, which debuted at the Big Apple Comic Con. It continued on the 93 subject, but with more mixture from other spiritual paths. Chaos magick started to creep in. The cover was my first rendition of The Star tarot card.

As much as I liked the cover, not too thrilled about the content inside. Might’ve mentioned the cut-up method in this issue. Don’t think this will be in print again.

Issue three was released against all odd. The year 2007 was a very rough year due to personal circumstances and adversaries. Despite everything, I managed to make it to MoCCA Art Fest 2007. Even managed to quickly put together The Psycho Bunny Scrapbook.

Issue three had much more content. Definitely more of the Chaos current by this point, which I truly believed might’ve saved my ass during that year. Again, other spiritual paths crept in. Such as my sketch of Freya in her chariot driven by her two cats. Looking back the tone was a bit all over the place. Reflecting on issues two and three now has a sad element. It’s best having these two being out of print.

Issue 4 was the last of the Babalon Babe series. It was printed in 2009, debuted at some NYC comic con where for a brief time, Big Apple Con and Wizard World merged together, aka Wizard World Big Apple Comic Con. I did an hour at the CAG table with this in hand. The last issue had much better art, and more of a focus. It had an official theme of astrology. The hardcore sex aspect was toned down, but it was still erotic. Each of the zodiac signs had it’s own pin-up. There’s still copies available of this issue.

Issue 4 of Babalon Babes, fall 2009. The final issue in the series. It’s theme was Astrology. Zine/sketchbook by Michele Witchipoo on WitchesBrewPress.

The last sketchbook I self-published had nothing to do with Babalon Babes, but a slight offshoot. Pin-Ups was quickly put together in 2015, and debuted at Big Apple Con. The miracle of Adobe InDesign.

Pin-Ups. A very small sketchbook. Released March 2015. Zine/Sketchbook by Michele Witchipoo on WitchesBrewPress.

If you want a copy of Babalon Babes issue four or Pin-ups, both titles are available for purchase. It’s four dollars each issue ($3.00 plus $1.00 for S&H). You can send payment through PayPal: Psychobunnycomix@aol.com. Please specify which issue you want. Also available for commissions, email for details, etc.

In all, being at MICE Expo 2016 was good. It was also a relief that not only did I make my money back for the table and bus fare, there was a bit of a profit. So it’s definitely worth break out of one’s comfort zone, and to do comic cons outside of your hometown. Even if you’re barely awake in the a.m.

Comicbook/Zine artist and writer Michele Witchipoo at MICE Expo 2016. Photo taken early in the morning, Oct. 2016.

Some more photos from MICE Expo 2016:

Being in Cambridge was pretty nice as well.

Being at MICE, I had the rare occasion of being near Salem, MA for Halloween. Managed to squeeze in a few hours, jumping on the train. Wasn’t far of a train ride from Cambridge and Boston.

It’s very easy to walk around Salem once you navigate around the tourists. Surprisingly I got a very accurate tarot reading in one of those occult shops. The psychic was a kind gentleman. His advice was spot-on as 2017 later unfolded.

There was some annoyance when some fundamentalist Christians started preaching on a street corner. Shouting about the evils on Halloween. Right across the street from one of the witch stores. Nobody really paid them any mind.

Here’s some photos from Salem, Halloween day, Oct 31st 2016:

Soon it was time to head back to NYC. Left Salem right before the rush of the evening crowds started coming in. BTW, Beer Works in Salem is an awesome brewery.

I’ll end the MICE 2016 series with some comics and zines picked up during the weekend. There was tons of talented artists, writers, zine makers and comic creators. Unfortunately a few months after MICE, there was an abrupt apartment move (no thanks to a former corrupt, greedy landlord, but that’s another story.) Most of the merch brought at MICE was thrown into a box, which I still have to locate. Luckily I was able to retrieve these:

Me & Doctor Dee.: A Jape/Tree Rats! or, The Crepuscular Hobbyhorse. A Farrago/A Beautiful Young Nymph Going To Bed by Jonathan Swift, Illustrated by E.J. Barnes all available on DrownedTownPress: http://www.drownedtownpress.com/